Water Information & News - Indonesia

A knowledge bank of information and articles relating to water infrastructure and water resources in Indonesia. Presented by PT MS Water.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

New methods bring clean water to slums

Source: The Jakarta Post

English Translation

City News - July 05, 2007

Anissa S. Febrina, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An empty paint bucket, a plastic bottle and abundant sun.

For most Jakartans, they would seem to be worthless. But, for Ipah, a mother of six living under the city's flyover in Teluk Gong, West Jakarta, these things make clean water and sanitation less of a luxury.

"It has been months since my toddlers had diarrhea," Ipah said as her children played around a stack of trash in front of her concrete shaded home.

The neighborhood Ipah and dozens other families live in makes a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, but the risk has been minimized since they came upon simple and affordable methods to treat water.

"We have been using Air RahMat for several months now. It's simple and cheap," said Encum, a neighbor.

Using their usual source of water from the local public tap plus a few drops of liquid sodium hypochlorite Air RahMat, residents of Teluk Gong no longer have to spend money on buying kerosene to boil drinking water.

And the chemical that costs them Rp 4,000 (around US 50 cents) frees their children from diarrhea.

"But it does have a weird taste," said another housewife when a field officer from non-governmental organization Emmanuel Foundation visited the area.

The foundation has been introducing cheap ways to treat water to several slum communities in Jakarta. The use of liquid sodium hypochlorite is only one among many implemented in different settlement areas.

"People living in substandard settlements see water differently from us. For them, as long as there is water, no matter what the quality is, it's OK," Emmanuel public health engineer Arum Wulandari said.

Statistics show that almost 80 percent of Indonesians use water sources that are likely to be contaminated with bacteria. Due to bad sanitation, some 100,000 toddlers in Indonesia die of diarrhea every year.

People living in slum areas are the most prone to the disease as they have no connection to tap water services and have little money to spend on clean bottled water.

Aside from introducing Air RahMat, Arum brought with her a ceramic filter system that works as efficiently as the liquid sodium hypochlorite but costs a little more.

Inside a makeshift home, just a five-minute walk from Ipah's house, a family uses a device that looks like a regular drinking water dispenser.

Unlike commonly found dispensers, this one was made of two stacked plastic containers in which a small brown ceramic tube is installed.

Water drips slowly from the tube to the lower container where Burhan and his family get their water.

"People say our water is refreshing. This system has worked for us for two years now," Burhan said.

The family's first ceramic filter had got broken when they were evicted several months ago, and a second one burned down along with their home under the flyover.

But, Burhan insisted on buying another one as the filter produced in Plered, West Java, helped the family a lot.

"The filter requires a higher upfront investment, but once you have it, you need not spend any money to make sure that you are drinking clean water," Arum explained.

"The ceramic is made with pores small enough to trap micro-organisms," she said.

Burhan's family paid for the filter in Rp 50,000 monthly installments, much less than the Rp 60,000 they were spending for kerosene to boil their water.

"The method is unpopular in Teluk Gong as they live under the flyover, an area where sun rays can't penetrate," Arum said.

But, in coastal Tanjung Priok, residents who are mostly scavengers gladly pour the previously unsafe water into used plastic bottles and expose them to the sun for six hours.

And, voila, the water is safe to drink as the ultraviolet rays have disinfected it and no more boiling is needed.

"We cannot provide access to water for slum dwellers through conventional ways like connecting them to the city water service or building them a well," Emmanuel's program officer Mindy Weimer said.

Living in a city that sees slum dwellers as an eyesore, residents of areas like Teluk Gong are faced with the constant threat of eviction.

Under such conditions, drops of sodium hypochlorite, plastic bottles and sun rays and ceramic filters made available at affordable price work better than empty promises of clean water from the authorities.

Saturday, August 20, 2005

West Java signs 11 MOUs on infrastructure development

The West Java administration has signed 11 memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday with foreign and domestic investors aimed at developing infrastructure in the province.

The MOUs, signed at the closing of the West Java Infrastructure Summit, formalized a number of public-private partnerships to develop infrastructure in areas such as electricity, water supply and waste treatment as well as non-infrastructure projects such as a bonded industrial zone and sugar cane plantations.

"The MOUs concern a very limited number of projects offered at the event. We expect participating investors at the event to see which projects in West Java need capital," West Java governor Danny Setiawan said.

A total of 174 foreign and domestic investors attended the event that offered 57 infrastructure projects worth Rp 35 trillion (US$3.5 billion). The event was part of the administration's effort to boost the province's economic growth from the current 5 percent to 8 percent in the next five years.

Danny said West Java needs Rp 50 trillion annually to develop up to 200 infrastructure projects but the administration had only prioritized 57 for the summit.

The event was jointly organized by the province's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadinda), consulting firm PA Asia Ltd. and supported by the Asian Development Bank.

The Artha Graha Group would be the developer of the so-called China Industrial Estate project, which would need site preparation and work on access roads, electricity, telecommunications, water and waste treatment networks, construction information provider firm PT BCI Asia said in its website www.bciasia.com.

Iwan said the Artha Graha Network, through PT First Mujur Plana & Industri, also signed an MOU to develop a Rp 1 trillion sugar cane plantation.

Other MOUs signed were for cooperation with Singapore-based United Engineers Pte. Ltd. for tap water supply and Keppel Corp. Ltd. for waste and water treatment; and Hong Kong-based Golden Concord Holding Ltd., Malaysia-based Geo Fusion Sdn Bhd, South Korean Kiikforum Inc. and Sam-an Engineering Consultants Co. Ltd. for developing power plants.

Local signatories included PT Medco Duta for developing geothermal power plants and PT Dirgantara Yudha Artha for developing the Pasirkoja-Soreang toll road and for waste treatment plants.

"To make the MOUs come about, we have to create a conducive climate by ensuring legal certainty, simplifying procedures and getting the commitment of provincial, regency and mayoralty administrations," Iwan said.

Juan Casla, economic cooperation program manager of the delegation of the European Commission to Indonesia, expected provincial administrations to have a better chance for successful reform, given that today provinces had more autonomy under the decentralization drive.

"Everything that can be done locally has a better chance for success," he told The Jakarta Post, adding that the chance was better for West Java as the administration had initiated a "legal security working group".

The group -- involving a number of prominent law firms -- recommended that the administration establish a special court chamber for investment cases in Bandung, and educate selected top judges in economic and industrial development, particularly the role of infrastructure in developing countries.

Other recommendations included giving advice to national authorities on tax division issues; a more integrated approach to investment-related licenses and applications, the introduction of competition for management of public services, and the introduction of the use of the "landlord" model in project developments to avoid undue political and civil service interference.

Surprised community, the Participation Fund was shifted in the Water Sale

Ciamis, (PR).-The Head of the Country Attorney General's Office (Kajari) Ciamis, Ariffin Bachroedin said, the attorney general's office formed the special team to do investigation of the fund of capital participation from Pemkab Ciamis, Rp 912 million to the company belonging to the area (BUMD) and the Bank West Javanese Ciamis. The capital participation was assessed by many peculiarities, especially being linked with capital participation to PDAM Ciamis.

"His plan the team from Wednesday (10/8) will check the management's rank PDAM Ciamis and the management from the West Javanese Bank as the recipient of the fund of capital participation," said Kajari Ariffin to the press, on Monday (8/8), in Ciamis.

Monday, July 11, 2005

Sutiyoso defends water charge increase

The Jakarta administration has played down criticism over the recent tap-water rate increase, arguing the decision was fair to both poor and wealthy customers.

"You judge yourselves whether it is fair or not to allow richer customers to bear the higher rate of up to Rp 12,000 per cubic meter of tap water, compared to the meager rate of Rp 900 for the poor, which is lower than similar rates applied in other cities nationwide," Governor Sutiyoso said on Friday.

The administration announced last week an increase in tap water tariffs, ranging from 5 percent to 63 percent, starting July 1.

The tap water fee for "modest" homes, as well as for social and religious foundations, like orphanages, mosques and churches, has increased by 63 percent, from Rp 550 to Rp 900, while for bigger houses, the fee has been raised by 8 percent to 11 percent, from Rp 5,100 and Rp 7,500 to Rp 5,700 and Rp 6,800 -- depending on water consumption.

A 6 percent increase, from Rp 9,750 to Ro 10,400 has been imposed on industrial and commercial enterprises, like hotels and restaurants. Customers classified as "special zone", including the Tanjung Priok port, are facing a 5 percent increase, to Rp 12,150 from Rp 11,500.

Sutiyoso said the rate paid by high-end customers had been too steep, so a slight increase for them had been decided upon.

"Since the tap water rates paid by the poor are cheaper than those paid by other poor residents in other cities across the country, like Semarang and Banjarmasin, we decide on a higher increase. I am sure they (Jakartans in the low-income bracket) will be able to afford the increase," he said.

The rate for low-income households and social and religious foundations in Semarang hovers at Rp 1,347, while in Banjarmasin in East Kalimantan it stands at Rp 948.

City Council speaker Ade Surapriatna said the council had rejected the increase as it burdened people in the low-income bracket.

"We are also opposed to the increase as the administration did not consult the council over the plan," he said.

He said the council had formed a team to study the tap water business in the city. The council is also seeking, through the team, to modify legislation issued by former speaker Agung Imam Sumanto -- whose term was from 1999 to 2004 -- that allows the administration to raise tap water rates every six months until 2007.

The latest increase is the second in a series of 10 planned raises, which were conceived as part of efforts to pay off city-owned tap water operator PAM Jaya's debts.

On Jan. 20, the administration covertly increased tap water rates by between 4 and 16 percent.

The company owes around Rp 600 billion to its two foreign partners, British PT Thames PAM Jaya and French PT PAM Lyonaisse Jaya, and Rp 1.6 trillion to the Ministry of Finance.

Palyja, a subsidiary of France's ONDEO (formerly Lyonaisse des Eaux) serves customers in the western part of Jakarta, while TPJ, a subsidiary of Britain's Thames Water International, supplies tap water to customers in the eastern part of Jakarta.

Poor people pay more for water

Lacking access to clean water in his neighborhood in Rawabuaya subdistrict, West Jakarta, Sunyoto, 45, has to spend up to 10 percent of his monthly income just to buy water from street vendors.

Like most of his neighbors, he buys a 20-liter jerry can of clean water from the vendor every day, which costs him Rp 1,000. The family use the water only for drinking and cooking.

"We have a well in our rented house, but the color of the water is yellowish. Although the water ruins our clothes, we have no choice but to use it for washing. Otherwise, most of our spending would be for water," the father of two said.

His monthly income is about Rp 500,000 (US$51.30), of which Rp 150,000 must be used for house rent. Luckily, both of his children are still under five and don't have to go to school.

The water vendors sell piped water supplied by PT Pam Lyonaisse Jaya (Palyja), the foreign partner of city owned water operator PT Pam Jaya which serves western part of the city.

Although the street vendors had yet to raise their price following the water tariff increase in early July, Sunyoto said he has no other choice but to spend more for water.

"Clean water is vital for my family," he said.

Currently, water supplied by PT Palyja and PT Thames Pam Jaya (TPJ), another foreign water operator serving the eastern part of the city, could only cover around 50 percent of clean water demands in the city.

Despite the poor service, water tariffs will keep on increasing every six months from 2005 until 2007, as part of efforts to pay off Pam Jaya's debts to the foreign partners.

The latest increase, effective on July 1, ranges from 5 percent for industrial, commercial premises and high-income area houses, up to 63 percent for low-income areas.

Previously, poor customers paid Rp 550 per cubic meter of water (one cubic meter is equal to 1,000 liters). Now they have to pay Rp 900 per cubic meter.

Although the hike led to public protests for putting heavier burdens on the poor, what they have to pay was still much cheaper than what Sunyoto's has to spend on water.

Sunyoto's neighbor Karno, 50, said he could get the same amount of clean water cheaper because he had the time and a cart to carry water cans home.

"The water operator sells water for only Rp 500 per 20 liters," he said.

Meanwhile, Mahdi, 50, a resident of Semanan subdistrict, also in West Jakarta, said that his family used underground water for all necessities. According to him, the water is of better quality compared to the underground water of his neighbors.

He feels safe consuming underground water although according to data from the City Health Agency, 90 percent of underground water in the city is contaminated by E. coli bacteria, a common cause of diarrheal diseases.

"Of course the water must be boiled before we drink it. It's much better than the pricey tap water which has been mixed with chemical substances," he added.

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Dark Waters

Source: The Jakarta Post

DARK WATERS: A scavenger rows his small boat across the blackish Grogol River in West Jakarta, collecting plastic bottles and other floating garbage worth selling. The city administration recruits scavengers for its river-cleaning program. (JP/P.J. Leo)

Jakarta -- MIOL: the drinking water tariff for the customer's group I (the orphanage) and the group Ii (the poor family) rose around 63 percent from Rp550/m3 to Rp900/m3 valid from July 1 2005.

"I have looked for the standard by seeing the water tariff for the poor group in Semarang and Surabaya, evidently in Jakarta stayed cheaper," said Special Capital District of Jakarta Governor, Sutiyoso to the reporter in the town hall, on Friday.

The group's III A tariff (the simple house) rose Rp550/m3, the IIIB group (the middle house) and IVA (the luxurious house) rose Rp600/m3 whereas the customer's group IVB and the Group Especially rose Rp650/m3.

Jakarta, Kompas - was counted from July 1, the drinking water tariff in Jakarta rose again. The rise periodically during the second semester 2005 that as big as 9,49 percent. Automatically, the water tariff will rise every time six months up until 2007. However, until this the service towards the community was still staying bad.

Special Capital District of Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso agreed to the rise in Pam's water tariff. The Rp rise size 5,838 per cubic metre or far more lower that was proposed the Regulator's Body the Drinking Water, that is as big as 18,1 percent.

Ciamis, (PR). Results of the audit that was carried out the Inspector's Body Finance and the Development (BPKP) West Java found the level of water loss belonging to the regional Company of the Drinking Water (PDAM) Ciamis, has been far above in general national. Water loss PDAM Ciamis, now reached 30,07 percent, whereas in general national 20 percent.

The Director was General PDAM Ciamis, Ade Supriatna, when dikonfirmasi, "PR", Monday (27/6) justified the existence of the warning from BPKP West Java the matter of the level of water loss of PDAM Ciamis that high. The condition because of the distributor's pipe of water belonging to this company, has been broken.

Semarang- Thousands Of water meters and the PDAM network in various territories, it was known had problems. So this regional company planned to rehabilitate the water meter and this network in time five years.

This explanation was sent by the Managing Director PDAM Ir Agus Sutyoso MSi, on Monday (20/6) during with his rank did the sudden inspection in several territories.He explained, this problematic water meter including the design, was placed was hidden, and his grating has been inaccurate.

Residents, YLKI oppose water rate hike

Immediately after moving into a 400-square-meter house in Karet Kuningan, South Jakarta, in 2003, Sugeng applied for a tap water connection with city water company PAM Jaya.

She hoped the connection would ensure a daily supply of clean water for her family of five.

Sugeng, however, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that she was extremely disappointed with the company's service.

"Last month, the tap water stopped flowing for three days. No official came to explain why. I could not just wait so I decided to hire someone to dig a well, bought a water pump and a water sanitizer," said Sugeng, adding that the work cost her more than Rp 2 million.

Dapot Rolan Simandjutak in Cilincing, North Jakarta, had an even worse experience.

The tap water stopped running to his 100-square-meter house for a week, forcing him to buy sanitized water from a vendor. Every day during the week, he spent Rp 700 for every 10 liters of water from the vendor.

The following month Simandjutak received a bill from PAM Jaya for Rp 100,000, far more than the Rp 30,000 to Rp 50,000 he usually paid each month.

"I went to PAM Jaya's office to protest. I told them I usually paid between Rp 30,000 and Rp 50,000 a month. They said one of their employees had made a mistake in reading the meter," Simandjuntak told the Post on Saturday.

Despite the inferior service, the city administration raised the water rate for poor households on Friday from Rp 550 per meter cubic to Rp 900, an increase of 63 percent.

While the water rate was raised 63 percent for low-income households, middle and upper-income residents and commercial enterprises will only be required to pay between 6 percent and 17 percent more for their water.

The lowest rate increase went to special zones, including Tanjung Priok Port, where the rate went up only 5 percent.

The hikes were part of a memorandum of understanding signed by the Jakarta administration and private tap water companies PT Thames PAM Jaya and PT Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja) on the repayment of the city's debts of Rp 600 billion to the companies.

Water rates were also raised last February by between 4 percent and 16 percent, effective as of January 2005.

Palyja, a subsidiary of France's ONDEO (formerly Lyonaisse des Eaux) serves customers in western Jakarta, while TPJ, a subsidiary of Britain's Thames Water International, supplies tap water to customers in eastern Jakarta.

Both Sugeng and Simandjutak were unhappy with the increases but told the Post they could do nothing about it.

"I accept the decision, but only if the water keeps running to my house. If it does not I will cancel my PAM connection and buy water from next door," Simandjuntak said.

"Rather than increasing rates, the Jakarta administration should review its cooperation with its private partners because they have not shown any significant improvement in providing good service," the YLKI chairwoman said.

Indah said she had received reports that many PAM customers in West and North Jakarta were not receiving water despite having tap water connections.

"About 11 percent of the total number of customers have not received water. But they still pay a monthly service charge," said Indah.

Indah said the administration must review its cooperation agreement with the two private companies because many of the targets contained in the agreement had not been achieved.

"The administration should review the cooperation. If it brings more losses than profit, cancel it," she said.